Engaging the Community
Community engagement is a vital piece of a public project that can determine its success. Ideally, engagement begins early and continues through implementation. Communities learn quickly that it is easier to obtain public input and gain buy-in from key stakeholders when a project is still in the idea stage so designs may created to reflect the desires of community members, rather than pushing through a project that community members don’t value or support. Hearing directly from those who live, work, and play in an area provides valuable insight in developing and realizing a vision that will be specific to a community. Engagement extends beyond design input; it also includes continued communications and interactions with local business owners, patrons, residents, and neighbors throughout implementation to maintain excitement and momentum in the community and ensure a smooth construction process and the creation of a space that benefits the community .
Regular check-ins with the public over the course of design and through the construction of a project offers the greatest chance of gaining and maintaining project support. Check-ins may include:
Project introduction: held in the earliest phases of project design, base maps and inspiration images can be used to inform the public of a proposed project and provide the opportunity for them to indicate support or concern, ask questions, and give input on what they would like to see.
Public Input: as design ideas are developed and refined, public meetings can be held occasionally or at regular intervals to obtain feedback and help the community understand how the project is coming together.
Construction Prep: in business districts where construction will impact business owners, it is beneficial to coordinate schedules, and impacts of road closures, building access, and parking so that local business owners and patrons can create and communicate a contingency plan.
Hard Hat Tours: inviting stakeholders to tour projects while under construction can increase buy-in and help them envision collaborative opportunities, while generating excitement for the new space.
Website and Media Updates: many municipalities will share plans and construction progress to keep their residents informed.
Community Ribbon-cutting/Open House: invite the public to tour the finished project with a celebratory event.